Lighting has the power to transform not only the look of the room but the feel of it too. Like much of the internet, we don’t want to turn on “the big light” if it’s only going to emit harsh, non-diffused light. Instead, we want soft, low lighting that feels cosy and not like a hospital.
A well-lit room can create a relaxed mood, while they also help form part of the interiors and act like an accessory to the overall style of a room.
Rattan, straw, bamboo and woven designs currently dominate the market, which works well for boho looks and scalloped and wavy shapes also help to add more texture to your interiors. While structured shapes that are Scandi-inspired are still solid choices.
Whatever you choose, a lampshade will likely last for a long time too, so it often is worth investing in them, though there are plenty of great designs that look far more expensive – you just need to know where to look.
Before you commit, think about the colours, shape, size and texture you’re adding to the room. Our hot tip, If you’re having a lampshade made to order, be sure to check and check again the sizing, so you’re not disappointed when it arrives.
Choose wisely, and a lampshade can last the test of time. This is how to light up your room.
How we tested
Every lampshade has been tested in our own lounge, either on the main ceiling light or a table lamp, depending on its design. We were looking to see how well it disperses light, how easy it was to fit and its quality. We also assessed each for its overall style and its value.
The best lampshades for 2024 are:
M&S scalloped rattan shade
We’re sure we’re not the only ones to have noticed M&S has really upped its interiors game in the past few years. It now has so many coveted items that sell out frequently, that we’ve always got our eye on something in its homeware department.
This is one of the best-priced shades we’ve come across in this sort of style, especially for its rather large size at 40cm, and comes in a very light brown and natural colour.
We did think it might not diffuse light well considering the slight open weave of the rattan, but it gave a pleasing glow to our room. As it doesn’t have an open top, it doesn’t cast a big shadow on the ceiling either, which we quite liked for keeping the lighting muted.
Buy now £49.50, Marksandspencer.com
Dunelm charming pleated lampshade
Dunelm has also cemented itself as a go-to for aesthetically pleasing interior pieces that come in at a much more affordable price point. There aren’t many ceiling lampshades you can buy that would give you change from £20, like this one.
We like its flower shape shade, and the contrasting white pleats and pale blue trim. It’s simple and pretty and would look good in any room. It’s lined too, adding to its quality, and it’s also available in 30cm size for just £16 and a dusty pink trim.
Buy now £14.00, Dunelm.com
Pooky empire shade
As the queen of all our lighting needs, Pooky has practically everything you could think of covered when it comes to shades, fittings and lamps.
Pooky doesn’t just excel at great shades, but it’s always going one step further in the world of lighting. This shade is designed to go with its mini elbow rechargeable wall fitting that looks just as good on either side of your bed, as they do in the lounge, and omits the need for annoying cables – very chic. We loved the quality of this little shade, which gives a superb warm glow and goes with practically any interior style. It’s also available as a pendant-style wall fitting.
Buy now £32.00, Pooky.com
Oka Avalon square 25cm ink blue
Another interior favourite brand of ours, Oka has such a knack for making us lust after so many of its designs.
We love the rather unusual square shape of this shade, which is handmade from iron, and its silk gathered outer (the only silk shade on our list) feels very luxurious, and comes in at a decent price considering it’s silk.
It features an all-over checked white and blue pattern and inside has a white cotton lining too which helps give a pleasing glow to the light. We think it looks best with a contrasting chunky lampstand.
Buy now £85.00, Oka.com
Maison Flaneur ochre striped linen shade
Looking for cool but understated interior inspiration? Maison Flaneur’s chic and creative designs cover everything from art to tableware, and of course lighting, and will have you adding plenty to your wishlist, just like us.
We love the pleated striped sides of this vintage-looking shade, which is finished off with a pretty little frill. Its ochre tone adds warmth to the room, and as the material is so thick and it’s well lined with organic cotton, once the lamp is on, it creates a warm orangey glow. Sizes start at 4.5in and increase by 2in from 6in up to 20in, which are handmade. You can also choose whether it comes as a pendant or a table lamp fitting.
Buy now £100.00, Maisonflaneur.com
Oliver Bonas blue velvet lampshade with fringe, large
If you love including a touch of velvet in your interiors, Oliver Bonas is always a safe bet for finding something to fit the bill. This plush oversized shade is exactly the sort of thing we’d expect from the brand, and we love the contrasting fringing that gives a fun 1920s feel to the shade.
It’s one of the biggest we’ve tested at 46cm in diameter, and we really like how much of an impact it makes on a room, even one that has high ceilings. It’s one for the maximalist who loves colour and texture. We only wish we could shake it when it’s fitted to get the lovely movement from the fringing. It’s also available in pink, yellow and green with the same gold fringing.
Buy now £65.00, Oliverbonas.com
Etsy raffia wavy lampshade
We love the cleverly wavy shapes of these styles of lampshades that we see all over Instagram. This shade from Etsy is handmade to order, created using natural raffia and is about half the price of many others like this we’ve seen – so be sure to measure up properly before ordering, though exchanges can be made.
There are 15 trim colours to choose from, including terracotta, pink and black and it comes in five sizes, ranging from 17cm up to 45cm. We also like that it can be made to be either a ceiling or a table lamp fitting. We chose the latter and loved how it looked on our table lamp and were really impressed with the quality of it.
Buy now £125.00, Etsy.com
Dunelm ruolan raffia 3 tier pendant shade
As the only one that needs any sort of “putting together” this large shade from Dunelm is another that looks more expensive than it is. Looking like a lantern, this shade has three tiers, where the middle and smallest sit on hooks within each other, creating the tiered effect. All you have to do is pop each tiere onto the hooks.
It’s a super easy (and affordable) way to add some interest and texture to the room and also comes in black as well as the natural colour we tested. Our only gripe was that there could have been more raffia wrapped around the wire frames, as when we put it up, some became too spaced out and it was hard to close up the gaps again.
Buy now £45.00, Dunelm.com
La Redoute So'Home brushed gold and pink globe shade pink
A glass ball may seem a bit, well, breakable when it comes to lighting but this globe shape is a fun addition to any room – just maybe not a children’s playroom. This one has a slight pink and brushed gold tint to it, which we think gives it a real Seventies glam vibe to the room.
It was a little harder to fit, simply as the opening at the bottom of the shade is much smaller than most others which are as wide as the full diameter.
Buy now £29.00, Laredoute.co.uk
The verdict: Lampshades
Our winner is the M&S scalloped rattan shade, as we love its shape and how well it diffuses light as a ceiling shade, as well as its affordable price point.
We also really rate the Maison Flaneur ochre striped linen shade which is excellent quality and we love how well it goes with our chunky dark green table lamp.
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